Protection and authentication device for a collectable object

Abstract

In one embodiment of the present invention, a protection and authentication device for a collectable object is described. The protection, authentication device comprises a holder formed for assembly with at least one collectable object to provide protection and preservation of the collectable object. The holder is formed so as to resist disassembly and separation with the collectable object. The holder further comprises a machine readable coded marking, such as a barcode that is nondetachably secured to the protection, authentication device. The coded marking, comprises a cryptographic protocol means for a user to view at least one digital image of the collectable object via a standard computer system to aid the user in the authentication of the collectable object. The digital image may be stored at a predetermined remote database.

Description

REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/493,312 filed on Jul. 26, 2006, by the inventor herein, entitled PROTECTION, AUTHENTICATION, IDENTIFICATION DEVICE FOR A COLLECTABLE OBJECT.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to the protection and authentication of collectable objects such as coins, stamps, currency and baseball cards.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0003] An industry for authentication, identification and certification of collectables has gained prominence and certification companies such as the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) have developed protective collectable holders to protect collectable objects such as coins, stamps, currency, and baseball cards. They encapsulate the collectable object and provide a professional opinion for condition and authenticity. These certified holders typically contain a standard barcode and serial number that are used for processing and basic certification information. The information typically relates to the grade, date and denomination and fails to validate that the collectable object has not been deceptively switched with a similar like kind collectable object that is inferior in grade, damaged, or even counterfeit. Although the certification services provide a tamper resistant holder, there are documented cases of deceptive practices of removing the collectable object (e.g., coin) from one holder and utilizing the barcode label and grade of another certified holder to fraudulently represent a different and uncertified collectable. Additionally, the holder is designed to be small and portable which necessitates a small label that only allows for minimal marking space and certification information. Often times the user or trader would benefit from a digital image as a record of the collectable object in conjunction with the certification data for viewing and authentication of the collectable object. Other benefits are achieved by providing a secret security protocol that links the collectable object with the digital image of the collectable object. This would facilitate a more secure means for authentication of the collectable object and increased authentication for marketing, trading, auctions and Internet sales, insurance validation, or simply an ownership validation of the certified collectable. The owner or buyer of a collectable object may also have an interest in additional information relative to the collectable object such as interesting historical information, current valuations, condition populations, and other relevant information. Applicant believes that an improved and more secure system is described for the protection and authentication of collectable objects, and would benefit multiple related collectable-based industries.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In one embodiment of the present invention, a protection and authentication device for a collectable object is described. The protection, authentication device comprises a holder formed for assembly with at least one collectable object to provide protection and preservation of the collectable object. The holder is formed so as to resist disassembly and separation with the collectable object. The holder further comprises a machine readable coded marking, such as a barcode, that is nondetachably secured to the protection, authentication device. The coded marking comprises a cryptographic protocol means for a user to view at least one digital image of the collectable object via a standard computer system to aid the user in the authentication of the collectable object. The digital image may be stored at a predetermined remote database.

[0005] Recognizing the need for an improved protection and authentication for collectable objects, the following objectives are considered:

[0006] It is an important objective of the present invention to provide for a secure means for a user to validate authentication of a collectable by means of viewing and evaluating a digital image of the collectable that corresponds to the certification of the collectable by a trusted source such as a certification service. A quality digital image (or images) of the collectable object that are created and securely stored at the time of certification of the collectable, can serve as a future record to validate authenticity. Collectable objects such as rare coins, have unique visual characteristics such as strike, centering, abrasions, luster, dates, wear, mintmarks, and die-varieties. These characteristics can be visually evaluated by a user or buyer to aid in the validation that the certified collectable object has not been deceptively altered or switched with an inferior example or even a counterfeit example. Other examples of collectables that will benefit from a protection and authentication device would include for example, stamps, baseball cards, currency, and autographs, and historical documents.

[0007] It is another important objective of the present invention to provide a practical sized portable holder for a collectable object that is tamper resistant and promotes protection of the collectable object stored in the holder.

[0008] It is another important objective of the present invention to provide a coded marking, such as a barcode that comprises the means of securely accessing a digital image of the corresponding collectable object, while promoting user security prompted by line-of-sight requirements of a machine that reads the appropriate barcode. Unlike other antenna based technologies, such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) that do not require line-of sight-requirements, it is an important objective of the present invention to provide authentication of the collectable without the use of radio frequency reading technologies. RFID enabled devices may create a potential security risk of privacy of a user of a rare and valuable collectable object by an unintended third party.

[0009] It is another important objective of the present invention to provide the user with digital images of the collectable that can be viewed by means of a standard computer system with Internet capability.

[0010] It is another important objective of the present invention to provide a security protocol, such as a cryptographic protocol, that provides for a user or trader of the collectable object the ability to electronically and securely access a digital image of the collectable object for user authentication, trading and sales.

[0011] It is another important objective of the present invention to provide for the means to store the collectable object and the a coded marking, such as a barcode together, in a method that resists disassembly so as to create higher probability that the owner will be required to utilize the protection and authentication device as a means for accessing the digital image and authentication of the corresponding collectable object.

[0012] It is another important objective of the present invention to provide a user a means of utilizing the digital image and certification of the collectable for other authentication benefits, such as insurance verification and records documentation.

[0013] It is another important objective of the present invention to provide a user the means to quickly and securely link to additional characteristics of the collectable object, for example, valuation, survival population, interesting historical information, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 shows a right front perspective, exploded view of one embodiment of the present invention device shown disassembled.

[0015] FIG. 2 shows a top plan view of another embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 3 shows a top plan elevation view of another embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 4 shows a diagram of one embodiment of the present invention that is similar to FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The various drawings provided herein are for the purpose of illustrating possible embodiments of the present invention and not for the purpose of limiting the same. Therefore, the drawings herein represent only a few of the many possible variations of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a disassembled view of one embodiment of the present invention. A protection and authentication device for a collectable object 1, is comprised of a collectable object 11, a barcode label 9 with visual markings 5 of the collectable object, for example coin 11, and a tamper resistant collectable holder comprised of an upper housing 3, and a lower housing 23 that are formed to enclose and protect coin 11, and barcode label 9. A "holder" shall mean a device that holds an one or more objects. The holder is made of a clear plastic, e.g., acrylic, and is designed to be tamper resistant by providing a means that will make it difficult for a user or owner to disassemble the holder once assembled. "Tamper resistant" shall mean, resists interference as to weaken or change for the worse. This can be accomplished by a method that securely bonds the upper housing 3 and lower housing 23, such as ultrasonic welding of the plastic mating surfaces. Inner core 19 is comprised of an inert plastic material and securely holds coin 11 by means of a cut-through opening 17 that allows viewing of the obverse and reverse of the coin. Label 9 comprises visual markings 5, such as the alphanumeric descriptors of collectable coin 11 and may include, but are not limited to, the coin's date, denomination, certification grade, and the machine-readable coded marking, such as a barcode. A coded marking is described as a machine-readable representation of information (usually dark ink on a light or contrasting background to create high and low reflectance which is converted to 1s and 0s). A good example of a coded marking is a barcode. There are many types of barcodes that could be utilized in the present invention. Barcode 7 is just one example of Linear type barcode or a one-dimensional (1D) symbology barcode. When barcode 7 is read by the appropriate barcode reader device, barcode 7 would typically provide basic characteristics of coin 11 corroborating the visual alphanumeric markings of barcode label 9. Label 9 is nondetachably secured to the protection and authentication device by placement into inner core 19, and the bonding of upper housing 3 to lower housing 23. Barcode 7 also comprises a security protocol, such as a cryptographic protocol means for a user to securely access and view at least one digital image of collectable object 11. A cryptographic protocol is a protocol that performs a security-related function and applies cryptographic methods. Cryptographic protocols often utilize one or more underlying key agreement methods that would typically be advantageous to the present invention. Just some examples of cryptographic protocols, but not limited to, include key agreements or establishments, entity authentication, symmetric encryption, asymmetric encryption, digital signatures, digital credentials, blind signatures, and shared-secret protocols. Various forms of cryptographic protocols could be utilized and encoded in Barcode 7. Public-key cryptography, also known as asymmetric cryptography is described as one example for the purpose of describing the present invention. Public-key cryptography is a form of cryptography in which a user has a pair of cryptographic keys, a public key and a private key. The private key is held secret, while the public key can be widely distributed. The keys are related mathematically, but the private key cannot be practically derived from the public key. A message encrypted with the public key can be decrypted only with the corresponding private key. For example, Barcode 7 maintains a public key linked to a corresponding digital image of coin 11, that is distributed by a Public-Key-infrastructure (PKI), for example, the certification service that is certifying (and imaging) the collectable object. A certification service shall be described as an industry authority on specific collectable objects, and that provide an expert opinion of grade, authenticity and certification of the collectable object. As an example, the certification service would encode Barcode 7, with a public key that can only be decrypted by the certification service's private key, or the certificate authority that has ownership of the private key. Barcode 7 may include various means to link to the certification services private network. For example, when Barcode 7 is decoded by means of the appropriate barcode reader, it will reveal a key to the certification services private network and the corresponding digital image of coin 11 that is housed with barcode 7. The key may be in several forms and dependent on the type of cryptography, but would typically include such examples as an encrypted hash function, a random selection of bytes that could be associated with the barcode serial number, or even a message that incorporates a basic description of coin 11. The encoded barcode would typically provide the means to link to the PKI, by such means as a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), or a Hyperlink. The PKI, maintaining possession of the key pairs, provides the means for decryption, and confidential access and viewing of the corresponding digital image/s of coin 11 by a user of the public key. Typically, the PKI would be the certification service, but another entity could provide the service in conjunction with the certification service. The PKI would typically issue the certificate keys, and link the corresponding digital image/s of the collectable object at the time of certification of the collectable object, for a future record of authentication. The digital image/s of a collectable coin for example, will typically possess unique visual characteristics such as strike variations, centering of design, abrasions, luster qualities, date of issue, wear, coloration, mintmarks, and die-varieties, etc., and serve as a future record of coin 11. Such characteristics can be visually evaluated by a user or buyer to validate that the certified collectable object has not been deceptively altered or switched with an inferior example, or even a counterfeit example after the coin has been certified and encapsulated by the certification. Other examples of collectables that would be applicable to the present invention, a protection and authentication device for a collectable object, would include for example, stamps, baseball cards, currency, autographs, and historical documents.

[0020] FIG. 2 shows a top plan view of another embodiment of the present invention. A protection and authentication device for a collectable object 30, is comprised of a collectable object 37, a coded marking such as barcode 35 with visual typical visual descriptive markings 33 of the collectable object, a collectable object (coin) 37, and a tamper resistant collectable holder 31. Holder 31 is shown as only one of many different possible sizes and form factors that would be applicable to the present invention. Barcode 35 comprises a security protocol means for an electronic link that fetches a remote database, such as a certification service's database, so a user can view at least one digital image of collectable coin 37. There are many types of electronic links such as hyperlinks, in-line links, deep-links, embedded links. For the purpose of the present invention, and as only one example, a hyperlink is described. A hyperlink is a coded reference or navigation element in a document to another section of the same document or to another document at a different website location. In this case, the hyperlink would navigate to the appropriate remote database location so a user can view the corresponding digital image of collectable 37. As an additional security means, the website might utilize a user login and password to verify the user's identity. The remote website may also provide linked associative data of collectable 37 such as the certification service's population reports, valuation, and interesting history associated with collectable object 37. The user might decide to initiate trading of collectable object 37, which shall refer to the sale or auction of collectable object 37, by performing certain user interface protocols, and the digital image of collectable object 37 could then be activated for public viewing as a certified record of the collectable, and offered for sale or auction bidding. The auction or sales protocol could be prompted by a user interface protocol at the remote website or another trusted external site, such as an auction company's website.

[0021] FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention. A top plan view of a protection and authentication device for a collectable object 40, is comprised of a collectable object (coin) 37, two different types of coded markings, or barcodes symbologies, barcode 43, a linear type barcode or one-dimensional (1D) symbology, and barcode 44, a data matrix type barcode or two-dimensional (2D) symbology. The protection and authentication device for a collectable object 40, may contain more than just one barcode, but at least one barcode comprises a security protocol to electronically link to the corresponding digital image/s of the collectable coin 37. Barcode 43 may be a coded marking with basic encoding relative to the sequential certification information associated with coin 37, and barcode 44, a data matrix barcode could provide the electronic link, or security protocol. For example, one type of a data matrix barcode is a Semacode that incorporates machine-readable data matrix symbols that encode an Internet Uniform Resource Locator (URL). Semacodes are also referred to as "graphical tags" that can be read by a portable phone's camera using Semacode's SDK software and provide an encoded means to link to a predetermined Internet location. The encoding of the Semacode 44 could have the encoded URL that fetches the corresponding digital image of coin 37 electronically, that is stored at a predetermined remote database, such as a certification service's database. Alternately, or as an additional security feature, barcode 43 could comprise another different security protocol, for example, a one-way-link. A one-way-link is a type of hyperlink that points to a website without any reciprocal link; thus the link goes "one way" in direction, and provides the encoded destination for viewing the corresponding digital image/s of coin 37. The certification service may utilize other security features such as a user login and password to validate the user's identity.

[0022] FIG. 4 shows a diagram of one embodiment of the present invention that is similar to FIG. 1. A protective holder 300 houses at least one collectable object 305 and a coded marking, such as barcode 303, that is encoded with a cryptographic key such as a public key. The appropriate barcode reader device, such as laser scanning device 307, reads barcode 303 and provides a user with the barcode data to computer system 309. The barcode data may include basic information, such as the collectable's grade, date, and certification information. Barcode 303 also provides a cryptographic key, for example that may be in the form of an encrypted message or big number, and can be sent to a Public-Key-Infrastructure (PKI), such as a certification service's remote network 311. The PKI decrypts the public key with the ownership of a private key and enables access to securely view a linked image(s) of collectible object 305 that is stored in the PKI's database. The PKI may utilize other security features such as a user login and password to validate the user's identity. The PKI may also provide linked associative data of collectable 305 such as internet hyperlinks that could bring a user to other internal sites or external sites, including external sites that have a trusted agreement with the PKI, such as an auction company. Additional secret data, such as the certification service's population reports, may also be made available to the user. The user might decide to initiate the sale or auction of collectable 305, by performing certain user interface protocols, and the digital image of collectable 305 could then be activated for public viewing for sale or auction bidding. The auction or sales protocol could be prompted by a user interface protocol at the PKI's remote network or another external site that has a key agreement with the PKI such as auction company 313.

[0023] Unless otherwise specifically stated, the terms and expressions have been used herein as terms of description and not limitation. There is no intention to use the terms or expressions to exclude any equivalents of features shown and described or portions thereof, and this invention should be defined in accordance with the claims that follow, or the equivalence thereof.

Claims

1. A protection and authentication device for a collectable object, said device comprising a holder formed for assembly with at least one collectable object to provide protection and preservation of said collectable object, said holder being formed so as to resist disassembly and separation with said collectable object, a machine readable coded marking nondetachably secured to said protection and authentication device, said marking comprising a cryptographic protocol means for a user to view at least one digital image of said collectable object via a standard computer system to aid said user in the authentication of said collectable object, and, said digital image being stored at a predetermined remote database.

2. A protection and authentication device of claim 1, wherein said machine readable marking is a barcode type marking.

3. A protection and authentication device of claim 1, wherein the digital image of the collectable object provides an authenticated record of the collectable object.

4. A protection and authentication device of claim 1, wherein said predetermined remote database may also provide a secure protocol for said user to electronically trade said collectable object utilizing said digital image as a means of authentication of the collectable object.

5. A protection and authentication device of claim 1, wherein said predetermined database may also provide additional characteristics of said collectable object.

6. A protection and authentication device of claim 2, wherein the digital image of the collectable object provides an authenticated record of the collectable object.

7. A protection and authentication device of claim 2, wherein said predetermined remote database may also provide a secure protocol for said user to electronically trade said collectable object utilizing said digital image as a means of authentication of the collectable object.

8. A protection and authentication device of claim 2, wherein said predetermined database may also provide additional characteristics of said collectable object.

9. A protection and authentication device of claim 3, wherein said predetermined remote database may also provide a secure protocol for said user to electronically trade, buy or sell said collectable object utilizing said digital image as a means of authentication of the collectable object.

10. A protection and authentication device of claim 3, wherein said predetermined remote database may also provide additional characteristics of said collectable object.

11. A protection and authentication device for a collectable object, said device comprising a holder formed for assembly with at least one collectable object to provide protection and preservation of said collectable object, said holder being formed so as to resist disassembly and separation with said collectable object, a machine readable barcode nondetachably secured to said protection and authentication device, said barcode comprising a security protocol for a user to electronically link to at least one digital image of said collectable object, said digital image being stored at a predetermined remote database and viewable via a standard computer system to aid said user in the authentication of said collectable object, and, the digital image of the collectable object providing an authenticated record of the collectable object.

12. A protection and authentication device of claim 11, wherein said predetermined remote database may also provide a secure protocol for said user to electronically trade said collectable object utilizing said digital image as a means of authentication of the collectable object.

13. A protection and authentication device of claim 11, wherein said predetermined remote database may also provide additional characteristics of said collectable object.

14. A protection and authentication device of claim 11, wherein said barcode is a one-dimensional (1D) symbology.

15. A protection and authentication device of claim 11, wherein said barcode is a two-dimensional (2D) symbology.

16. A protection and authentication device of claim 11, wherein said cryptographic protocol means is symmetric cryptography.

17. A protection and authentication device of claim 11, wherein said cryptographic protocol means is asymmetric cryptography.

18. A protection and authentication device of claim 11, said barcode comprises a security protocol including an encoded electronic link to the corresponding digital image of said collectable object at said predetermined remote database.

19. A protection and authentication device of claim 11, wherein said barcode comprises a security protocol including an encoded Uniform Resource Locator (URL) that links to the corresponding digital image of said collectable object at said predetermined remote database.

20. A protection and authentication device of claim 15, wherein, said barcode is graphical tag.